Historic photos highlight Hellenic culture at Sac State

Historic photos, such as this one by Petros Moraitis, are on exhibit at Sacramento State.

Photos of Greece taken from the 19th century to the present offer a fascinating depiction of Athenian architecture and countryside in a free exhibit at Sacramento State’s Library Annex Gallery.

“The Creative Photograph in Archeology” features 76 images of Greece and runs through Saturday, Nov. 20. A closing reception will be held 6-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19 in the gallery, and include a keynote presentation by Art History Professor Catherine Turrill. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

Originally presented at Fairfield University in Connecticut, the exhibit presents the work of influential photographers such as Sotiropoulou, Stillman and Hellner. The photos, made from scans of original negatives in Greek archives, offers new ways of seeing archaeological sites, through the creativity of the photographers. Many reveal popular landmarks in their former rural surroundings.

“Only 100 years ago, Athens was a small town where sheepherders let their animals feed below the Acropolis,” says History Professor Katerina Lagos, curator of the Sacramento State exhibit. “These images are exquisite in capturing Athens before its massive urbanization.”

For more information on the exhibit, call (916) 278-7103. For media assistance, call Sacramento State’s Public Affairs office at (916) 278-6156.